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The Lost Art of Disciple Making

by LeRoy Eims

A Classic Handbook on Discipleship

Would you rather have a penny a day that doubles for 30 days or $1,000,000? Would you rather lead 100,000 people to Christ or multiply two disciples each who multiply every year for 30 years? The results are drastically different.

You might be thinking, “What can a 35-year-old book teach me about discipleship? Well, be prepared to sit and learn from one of the best disciple-makers to come out of the Navigators, or the Church, this century.  Leroy Eims’ study of the word of God, commitment to make disciples, and insights from decades of experience, make this a must read for anyone wanting to learn about discipleship.

The book explores the need to reproduce disciples, the biblical basis for multiplying disciples, and examples in scripture. It then discusses the people involved, the process of discipleship, practical objectives to shoot for, and how to develop workers and leaders who will go and do the same.

It is structured, intentional, and logical in it’s approach, that is one of the reasons we recommend it. Our efforts to be more “relational” and “organic” have improved how we treat people; they are no longer “projects” and that’s good. However, we have lost some (or a lot) of our intentionality, and direction in the process. We now spend way more time counseling, and doing life together, where the focus is not on Jesus and making disciples, but on the issues,  habits, and hurts of our students.  This book will help bring more focus to your discipleship by explaining the goal and how to get there clearly.

How to use this tool

  • Read it with your student or staff leadership team and discuss at staff meeting. How can we be more intentional? Are we truly multiplying? If not, why, and how do we change? 
  • A must read for every campus minister for your growth, development, and training. This is the best thinking on the topic. You will learn a great deal.
  • Make this mandatory reading for all your leaders. This would make a great training manual on disciple-making.
  • Read it with a few other college leaders and discuss as a group. Attempt to translate it’s application to our day and culture. Distinguish and discuss the “how to’s” of the author and the biblical truths we are all called to obey.
  • Know the “hand of how to read God’s word” p. 81
  • Memorize the “wheel of habits that lead to spiritual maturity” p. 80

Conclusion

To “go and make disciples of all nations” we need to know what it looks like. The Lost Art of Disciple Making does this. It is a classic with tried and true methods that have been used millions of time. While the plan might seem difficult (what worth while thing is not difficult?) it is easy to understand.  The hard part will be doing this instead of the many other “good” things we think we need to do for effective ministry. This is it. Do this well and you will change the world. Miss this and you miss everything. This is what Jesus left us here to do. May God grant us the grace to truly invest in others that the Church might multiply disciples and fill the earth with the glory of God.